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A 32-year-old man who allegedly beheaded his 16-year-old fiancee in Madikeri and fled with her severed head was found dead on Friday, the Karnataka police said. The man identified as Prakash, took the girl’s head before absconding from the crime scene.

Authorities later found Prakash”s body hanging near his residence in Kodagu”s Somwarpet. However, the victim”s severed head is yet to be located.

Prakash was set to marry Meena, a recent Class 10 passout. When the news reached the Child Welfare Department, officials raided the wedding venue and ordered the families to stop the ceremony as the girl was underage and her marriage could attract a case under the POCSO and Child Marriage acts.

Following counselling sessions, both families consented to postpone the marriage until Meena turned 18. However, Prakash became angry.

However, at around 5.30 pm on Thursday, Prakash returned to Meena’s house and assaulted her parents before dragging the girl outside for about 100 metre. He then chopped off her head and fled with her severed head, police said.

The victim”s parents were rushed to the hospital, where her mother was treated for her injuries. Her father did not receive any visible cut injuries, police said.